is no question but the Church may alter their own government so that it be left to themselves to alter as they shall thinke most convenient as well as alter the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first of the week or as well as they chang'd immersion into aspersion of the baptised and many other things which carried as much Jus Divinum with them as Episcopacy and yet were chang'd The Jus Divinum that is in Episcopall Government doth not consist in the Episcopacy but in the Government be it Episcopall or what it will but where the government is Episcopall no question but there Episcopall government is Jure Divino because a government and if it were otherwise that government into which Episcopacy degenerateth would be Jure Divino as well it provided that none touch this Ark of the Church but the Priests themselves for if the hand which belongs to the same body pull the hat from off the head the man loses not his right only he stands in a more humble posture but he is in as strong possession of his owne right as when 't was on his head but if another hand should chance to pull it off the party stands disgracefully depriv'd of his highest right and ornament So if Episcopall Government of the Church be put down or altered by Church-men themselves the Jus Divinum is but removed from the supremacy of one and fastened in the stronger hold of many members for this is a Maxim that admits no posterne power never fals to the ground neither in Church nor State but look what one lets fall another takes up before ever it comes to ground wherefore loosing nothing they keep their own but whether this power in Church or State in the point of convenience be better in the hands of one or many let whose will look to that that 's not my work neither the names of governments nor the numbers of governours shall ever be able to fright away this Jus Divinum out of the Church government be the government what it will bene visum fuit spiritui sancto nobis keeps in the Jus Divinum be the government never so altered whereas forbidden and improper hands actions as unusuall as unwarrantable lets out this Jus Divinum when they have changed it to what they can imagine now whether or no it be proper for a Lay Parliament or a Representative of Lay-men by the power of the Sword declining the Kings Authority will and pleasure who was appointed by God to be a nursing Father of his Church to alter Church-government so Antient so begun by Christ himself in his own person over so many Apostles so practis'd by the Apostles over others so continued all along I mean Episcopacy that is to say one Minister constituted an overseer of many and to lay hold upon tumults and insurrections to pull down these overseers and for men who in such cases should be governed by the Church to pull down the Church-government without any the least consent of the Church-governours I leave it for the world to judge only my own opinion is this That any government thus set up or by such practises as these altered must needs be so far from being Jure Divino that it must needs be Jure Diabolico but it may be objected that if they should have stayed untill the Bishops had altered themselves they might have staied long enough to which it may be answered that had the Bishops been but as poor as Job there would have been no such haste to change their cloathes The Ark was a tipe of the Church and whatsoever was literally commanded concerning the tipe must be analogically observed in the thing tipified God sate in the Mercy-Seat that was over the Ark the Ark contained within it Aarons Rod and a pot of Manna so the Church containes the Law the Gospel the killing letter and the reviving spirit others interpret the Rod to signifie the government and discipline of the Church as the Manna the Doctrine of Christ and food that came down from heaven I take it to signifie both and both answers my purpose if both be therein contained neither must be touch'd but by the Priests themselves neither must we confine this prohibition to the Priests of the Law only but we must extend it also to the Ministers of the Gospel both which were tipified by the two Cherubims or ministring Angels of the Almighty these Ministers or Angels though opposite to one another yet they both lookt alike and neither of them upon one another but both of them upon the Ark that was between them there was mutuality in their looks and their wings touch'd one another so though the Ministers of the Law and the Gospel seem opposite in the administration of the same grace yet they must come so near as to touch one another in the manner of the administration exempli gratia as there was in the old Law High Priests Priests and Levites so in the new Law Bishops Presbyters and Deacons as none but Priests were to touch the Ark so none but the Ministers should reforme the Church Thus much for Government now for Episcopacy the question then concerning Episcopacy will be whether or no Jure Divino one Minister which answers to all names and sorts of Church-men and Church-officers whatsoever may not exercise jurisdiction and power over many Ministers within such a place or territory if this be granted the Bishops aske no more if it be denied how then did Christ Jesus Bishop of our souls give orders and directions to his twelve Apostles and taught them how they should behave themselves throughout this Dioces the whole world how did Saint Paul exercise jurisdiction over Timothy and Titus who were both Bishops and how did these two Bishops exercise jurisdiction over all the Ministers of Creet and Ephesus was not this by divine institution If I find by divine writ that Christ laid the foundation of his Church in himselfe alone being over all the Apostles and if I find that these Apostles every Apostle by himselfe in imitation of ouâ— Saviour accordingly exercised jurisdiction and authority over many Ministerâ— which were under them and commanded others to do the like as Paul Timothy and Titus and if I find the practise of the Church all along through the whole tract of time to continue the like Discipline shall not I believe this Discipline to be Jure Divino except Christ sends down a new conje deslier from heaven upon the election of every new Bishop Christ laies the foundation we build upon it he gives us the modell we follow the pattern the Church is built is not this by Divine Right because he doth not lay the severall stones with his own hands Christ promised that he would be alwayes with his Church and that he would send his holy spirit amongst them which should lead them into all truth so that the gates of Hell should not prevaile against it
they admit of many being there is bâ—â— one This I speak in reference to the Country not to particular men Neither is there a sort of Christians in the world who are less servants unto Christ if it be enough to make them so to be the greatest prophaners of his day for the Sabbath day is only distinguished from other daies by a Sermon in the Church and the Alehouse being full of Mechannicks drinking and carousing from morning untill night the shops are open and buying and selling all the day long excepting halfe the window which is to distinguish the day but the door is open to let in the buyers and the other halfe of the window is open to let in the light and wonderfully strange it is and remarkable to consider how these people who shook off their allegiance to their Prince upon pretences of Reformation should be so besotted as to fall into such a strange and unheard heard of prophanenesse of him and the day whereon Christ himself is to be worshipped as in their Metropolis or chief City to have a dog â—arket kept to the utter scandall of â—â—ue Religion and Christianity it selfe â—â—is is no more then what I have seen â—â—d if it were not true it were easily reâ—â—rned upon my self as the greatest imâ—â—udence that could be imagined but O â—â—e partiality of the picture-drawer â—hen he receives large wages for a siâ—ilitude he insults over his own work â—nly because it is like when the face it â—elf is most abhominable Now for their freedome from Tyâ—anny and oppression if the Turkes or Tartars had conquered them they never would nor never did where ever they extended their dominions impose such taxes and rates as they have imposed on one another incredible even to the full value of the severall commodities which run through their natives hands but you will aske me how it is possible they should live then to which I answer you by sharking and cosening of strangers Let any forraigners come there and ask for a dinner and for such a dinner as they may well afford for eight pence a piece they will ask you five shillings a man find but the least fault with them and they will demand twelve pence a piece more for fouling of linnen and if you seem angry at that you shall mend your self with the payment of six pence a piece over and above for fouling the roome and seeke a remedy and you shall be told the Prince of Orange himself if he were there could not help it altom all is all the reason they will give you if in sadnesse you shall complaine of such abuses to indifferent Judges they will tell you that the States do lay such heavy taxes upon the Inhabitants that they are faine to fly to such shifts for their subsistance thus men pleased with the itch of Innovation are contented to scratch the bloud out of their own bodies till they feel the greatest smart rather then their Physitian should let out a little spare bloud to cure the disease and preserve them in good health but you will say that for all this they thrive and prosper abundantly so do the Argiers men but with what credit and reputation in the eye of the world I believe both alike It was not their strength or policy which brought them to this height and flourishing condition but it was our policy of State in â—â—mulation to other Princes which helâ—ed these calfes to Lions hearts teeth â—nd clawes untill the high and mighty â—utter-boxes stood in competition with the Crowne and I am afraid the siding with such Rebels hath turned Rebelâ—ion into our own bosomes as a just â—udgement from that God who is a reâ—enger of all such iniquities they may call it the Schoole of War whilst wanting a good cause it could be no otherwise then the Christians shambles I should be sorry that Holland should be the English-mans Looking-glasse a spur for his feet or a copy for his hand I hope the hand of providence will cure us like the Physitian who cur'd his patient by improving his disease from a gentle Ague to a high Feaver that he might the better help him CHAP. XV That Episcopacy is Jure Divino IN this discourse I shall not trouble my selfe nor you with Titles Names and words of Apostles Evangelists Arch-Bishops Bishops Patriarchs Presbyters Ministers Angels of Churches c. which were all from the highest to the lowest but tearmes reciprocal and were often taken in the Church of God and in the Scripture it self for one and the same for if any man though never so meane a Minister of the Gospel converted any Nation the Church ever called him the Apostle of that Country as Austin though but a Monke was every where tearmed the Apostle of England and Saint Paul being an Apostle stiles himselfe a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Paul bids Timothy being a Bishop to do the work of an Evangelist and therefore no wonder if Bishops and Presbyters be â—ften mentioned for one and the same â—ut it is a great wonder that any manâ—er of men should make this a ground â—or any argument against Episcopacy â—hese kind of arguments instead of striâ—ing fire that should light the candle â—hey do but pin napkins over our eyes â—nd turne us round untill we know â—ot where we are and then we grope â—or we know not who and lay hold â—f we know not what he that will â—ut down this over-grown up-start tree â—f errour must first clear his way to the â—oot and brush away all those bramâ—les and briers which grow about it â—e must not leave any thing standing â—hat may lay hold of the hatchet and â—eviate the stroke turning the same â—dge upon the feller that was intended â—or the tree if we should insist upon â—ames and titles we should make but a â—onfounded piece of worke and run our â—elves into a most inextricable labourinth and Mazes of errour Where we might run and go forwards and backwards and round about and nere the near Christs are Kings Kings are Gods God is Christ and Christ is Biâ—hop of our souls Bishops are Presbyters Presbyters are Ministers a Minister is an Apostle an Apostle is a Minister and so if you will quite back againe I must put off these as David threw away Sauls Armour non possum incedere cum iis I love to knock down this monstrum informe ingens in lumen ademptum with a blunt stone taken out of a clear River which with the sling of application may serve well enough to slay this erroneous Philistine though he were far greater then he is In the first place therefore let as understand what is meant by Jus Divinum if any man meanes that Episcopacy is so Jure Divino that it is unalterable and must continue at all times and in all places so that where it is left off there can be no Church he meanes to give much offence and little reason for there
but if Episcopacy be Anti-Christian then the gates of Hel have not only prevailed against it a long time but all along As all Judgements are given in the Kings name and all records run Rege presente though the King be not there in person but in power so the universall and un-interrupted and continued and generally received Discipline of his holy Catholick Church which Church we are bound to believe by the Apostolical Creed is Christo presente Ergo Jure Divino though Christ be not there in person but in power which power he conferr'd upon those who were to be his successours which were called Apostles as my Father sent me so send I you and he that heareth yâ—u heareth me and loe I will be with you alwayes unto the end of the world surely this Discipline of one over many call it what you will is to descend and continue unto the end of the world Object But it may be objected How can you prove that Christ commanded any such thing or that Christ gave to the Apostles any such power as to make successors in their steads with a warrant for it to continue from age to age Sol. Where do you find that Christ gave the Sacrament to any but his Disciples drike ye all of this but they were all Apostles to whom he said so where did you find that Christ administred the Sacrament or commanded it to be administred unto any Lay-men or women therefore is not the Sacrament given unto them Jure Divino because the words were left out in the conveyance when there grew a disputation concerning Divorcements Christ sends us to the Originall Sic autem not fuit ab initio if Christs rule be good then the Bishops are well enough for they may say concerning Episcopacy I mean one over many and that safely too sic erat ab origine some are very unwilling that this Episcopacy should be intaild by Christ upon his Apostles and their successours out of these words Mat. 28.20 I will be with you alwaies to the end of the world they will not have it to mean in their successours but the meaning to be this I will be with you alwayes unto the end of the world that is to say in the efficacy and power of my word and Gospel to all ages why may it not signifie this and that too that it doth one is no argument but that it may do both God made all things in number weight and measure and will you â—â—â—ike his word shall sensus factus thrust out sensus destinatus out of the Scriptures the first Ministers of the Gospel must adequate to the first Minister of the Law and behold the same method observed in both their institutions what difference is there between Christs words to his Disciples I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Mat. 28.20 and Gods words unto Aaron at his setting him a part for the High Priests office This shall be a Statute for ever unto thee and to thy seed after thee Exod. 28.43 Certainly if the Gospel be nothing else but the Law revealed and the Law be nothing else but the Gospel hidden whatsoever is written or said of the Ministers of the one must needs have reference also to the Ministers of the other and I shall desire you to look a little back upon the words which God said to Aaron when God speakes of the seed of Aaron he only maketh mention of the seed after him but when he speakes of the Statute he saith it shall be for ever if I do not flatter my own judgement that tels me that this Statute of High Priest-hood or Episcopacy call it what you will must have heires after the seed of Abraham is expired and did not the Catholick Church all along call the receiving of the holy Ghost the order of Priest-hood did ever any record above seven years date call it making of Ministers and why are they angry with the word Priest is it because the Prophet Isaiah Prophecying of the glory of Christs Church tels us we shall be named Priests of the Lord but that men shall call us Ministers of God Isay 61 6. If the Ministration of the Law be glorious shall not the Ministration of the Gospel be much more glorious 2 Cor. 1.3 and shall the Ministers of the same Gospel be lesse glorious when you see a man that cannot abide to see anothers glory you may be sure he is no kin to him or very far off so you may be assured that these are no true sons of the Church nor no right children who thinke a Chaire too great state for their fathers to sit in In the Apostles time these Bishops or if you will Superintendents which are all one in signification only a good Greek word chang'd by Mr John Calvin into a bad Latin word were stiled Embassadours of the Almighty Stars of Heaven Angels of the Church â—c but now these Embassadours are â—sed like vagabonds these Stars are â—ot Stars but fallings and the Angels â—re no where to be found buâ— ascending â—nd descending Jacobs Ladder whilst â—his reputation was given unto the Church and to its officers the stones â—f its building were in unity but as it â—s now it seemes no otherwise then as a Corps kept under ground seemingly inâ—ire but once touch'd soon fals to dust and ashes Never was there such a monster as this ruling and thus constiâ—uted Preâ—bytery the father of it Rebelâ—ion the mother Insurrection the midwife Sacriledge the nurse Covetousnesse the milke Schism the coats Armour the rattle Drums a Bloudy Sword the corrall Money the babies it delights to play withall it grows up to be a stripling and goes to school to a Councel of War its lesson is on the Trumpet its fescue a Pistoll its going out of school in ranke and file its play-dayes the dayes of Battaile and blackmunday the day of Judgement it comes of age and is Married with a Solemn League and Covenant it begets children like it self whose blessing upon them is the power of the Sword anâ— whose Imposition of hands are brokeâ— pates this monster cries downe thâ—â— truely Antient Catholick and Apostollick power which the Bishops exercised and then take it up againe and use it themselves in a higher nature then eveâ— any Bishops or Apostles themselves did or durst have done even to the excommunication and deposement of their Kings to the delivering of them up unto Satan and to Hang-men if they stood but in their way to whom the Apostles taught submission how faulty so ever they were and if not obedience yet submission to every one of their ordinances if not for their own sakes yet for the Lords sake and for Conscience sake these men cry down the same authority as Popish whilst they exalt themselves above all that are called Gods in a higher manner then ever any Pope of Rome ever yet did we will begin with this Monster in the very place of its Nativity
ground of his quarrell with the Bishop who also was their Prince when in his own person he acts the part of both Now we will see how these kind of â—reatures have plaid the masters of mis-â—ule among our Princes here at home King James in his discourse at Hampton Court tels us how the Presbyterians â—ecame Lords Paramount in his Kingdome of Scotland and how they used his Mother the Queen of Scots viz. Knoxâ—nd Buchanon and the rest of that gauge came unto Mary Queen of Scots and told â—er that by right no Pope nor Potenâ—ante whatsoever had any superiority over her in her own Dominions either â—n cases Civill or Eccesiasticall but that â—hee her self was Supreme in both and constituted by God as the only nursing mother of his Church within her Dominion and therefore conjured her to look about her and not to let the Pope of Rome or any of his agents to have any thing to do within her territories and to have care of Christ Evangil as â—hee would answer it at the dreadfull day of judgement shee gives them her â—ar and at last her authority they make use of it in the first place to the pulling down of the Bishops and exalted themselves in their roome when the Queen look'd for an absolute Supremacy behold all the Supremacy that these men would alow her was not so much as to have one private Chappell for her self nor one Priest whereby shee might serve God according to her own conscience shee finding her self so much deceived labours to recall her authority they kept her to it shee takes up Armes they oppose her fight her beaâ— her out of her Kingdome shee flies into England they follow her with invectives thrust jealousies into the Queen of Englands bosome concerning her shee is imprisoned and after a long imprisonment put to death King James having related this passage in the forementioned discourse unto Dr Renolds and Knewstubs and the rest turnes unto the Bishops and closes his discourse with this animadversion wherefore my Lords I thanke you for my Supremacy for if I were to receive it from these men I know what would become of my Supremacy the shining light of the Gospel and the burning zeal of the Ministers thereof may fitly be compared to fire which if it be not in every roome confind to on hearth and limited to one tunnell that may convey out of this so comfortable and necessary a blessing all that may be destructive and offensive in it up toward the highest â—egion but is suffered like wild-fire to â—un up and down the house it will soon â—urne all to flames and high combustiâ—ns so the government of the soul â—eemes to be of so transcendent nature â—o what the government of the body â—nd goods is that if it be not overtopt with superintendency or Episcopacy â—nd so disimbogued into the Supreme â—uthority this comfortable heat if limited as it turnes to our greatest benefit so neglected and boundlesse soon converts its self into a suddaine destruâ—tion and ruine If you will hear how these men dealt with King James her Son and Father to Charls the First you shall find it in his Basilicon Doron Crebrae adversus me in tribunitiis Conscionibus Callumniae spargebantur non quod crimen aliquod designassem sed quia Rex eram quod omni crimine pejus habebatur are these men good subjects did they not convene him diverse times before them school him Chatechize him like a school-boy did he not protest unto his Son Henry that he mislik'd their proud and haughty carriage ever since he was ten years of age did he not say that Monarchy and Presbytery agreed like God and the Devil and have we not found it so if we consider the behaviour of our new madâ— Presbyterians in England to Charls the Frist his Son O but the Presbyterianâ— had no hand in it they pray'd and preach'd and writ against it fasted and pray'd for a diversion of all such intentions but I pray who took the Scepteâ— out of his hand in taking away the Militia of which it was an emblem that should have defended him was it not the Presbyterian who cast down his Throne by taking away his Negative voice was it not the Presbyterians who took off his Crown the fountaine of Honour from off his Head by denying those honour on whom he had confer'd it without them was it not the Presbyterian who took away his Supremacy singnified by the sacred unction wherewith he was anointed in not allowing him the Liberty of his owne Conscience in the point of Episcopacy and Church government was it not the Presbyterian who would not â—reat a minuite with their King before they had made him acknowledge himself guilty as they say of all the bloud that had been spilt throughout his Dominions was it not the Presbyterian who notwithstanding all the Concessions on his â—â—rt that could be granted even to the â—ery grating his Princely Conscience â—hen he bid them aske flesh from off his â—ones and he would not deny it them â—it might have been a benefit unto his â—eople prayed that he might keep his â—onscience whole it was the Queen â—â—gient of all good mens actions and â—e hoped there were none would force â—is Queen before him in his House as â—â—asuerus said to Haman Voted not saâ—isfactory so long untill the Indepenâ—ent Army came from Edenbâ—rough and â—urpriz'd and murdred him was it not the Presbyterians he that said the Presâ—yterians held him down by the haire while the Independents cut off his Head said true enough they murdred him as â— King before ever they murdred him as a man for what may the Independent say to the Presbyter if yuo 'l take off his authority we 'l take of his Head if you 'l make him no King we 'l make him no body if you 'l make him a man of bloud we 'l use him accordingly therefore at your doors O Persybterian hypocrites do I lay his Innocent bloud it is but like the rest of your actions committed by your Ancestors to former Princes all along One thing I pray you well observeâ— There was never any reformed Church in Christendome but when they shook off their Bishops they made their apologies to all the Christian world how they were necessitated to alter that antient and best form of government of the Church by Bishopâ— in regard that they could not be drawn off from their obedience and dependance on the Pope of Rome and if possible they would retaine that laudable government as most convenient but never were there any reformers in the world but ours that ever held Episcopacy to be unlawfull and Anti-christian before and will you know the reason which is only this the Bishops what they receive they lay down at his Majesties feet as acknowledging him to be Supreme in all cases when they would have him to be Supreme in no case as Buch. de jure Regini plainly tels us that Princes are